Storage

Winbond's SpiFlash Memory Found in Edge Computing Devices

This article was originally authored by Fely Krewell, Business Development Manager at Winbond.

Winbond’s SpiFlash memories are available in a wide range of densities, ranging from 512 Kilobit to 512 Megabit, and in a variety of packages types. Serial flash memories, highly valued for their low pin count enabling design simplicity and smaller form factor, are widely used in a variety of applications, extending from computing, consumer, portable, networking, industrial, medical, and automotive. The 128 Megabit density in the 8-pin SOIC package (W25Q128JVSIQ) is currently the most popular for new designs.

In a typical application, a SpiFlash is used to store code which is transferred to RAM during boot u. This process is called “shadowing”. The SpiFlash can also be used directly as an execute-in-place (XiP) system boot memory. Lastly, the same memory can be used to store critical data such as system parameters or configuration data.

W25Q128JVSIQ Product Features

128 Megabit

Operating voltage range: 2.7V to 3.3V

Single, Dual, or Quad SPI operations

Clock operation up to 133MHz

266/532MHz equivalent with Dual/Quad SPI

-40° to +85°C operating range (Industrial Temperature)

Dual Transfer Rate (DTR)

Security features

Notable, the Double Transfer Rate (DTR) feature can accelerate system boot time or provide the speed required for XiP. The DTR feature improves the read operation throughput without increasing the serial clock frequency because the data is latched on both the rising and falling clock edges. DTR is supported during Standard, Dual, Quad SPI, and QPI modes.

Historically, Flash memory has played a role in hardware security, enabling “secure boot” and “root of trust” - two important security fundamentals. Winbond’s SpiFlash memories offers both hardware and software security features that include protection against inadvertent write or erase to ensure data integrity. Any number of sectors within the memory array can be “locked” in this protected mode.

SpiFlash comes with a factory-programmed 64-bit Unique Serial Number, where each device has its own identity, and three 256-bytes Security Registers that are one-time-programmable with locks. The Unique Serial Number or the programmable security registers can never be erased or unprotected. OEMs use one or both features as a secure authentication solution and/or preventing field cloning or component swapping.

Winbond’s popular W25Q128JVSIQ can be found in many edge computing devices such as smart home devices; IoT gateways or hubs; small robots; energy meters; camera-base systems for industrial, consumer or vehicles; medical devices; and drones.

For more information about Winbond’s SpiFlash products, download their Selector Guide and contact a WPG Americas Specialist.